WESTFIELD — For the second time in three years, Donald Humason Jr. of Stony Lane will face Michael McCabe of Hawthorne Avenue in a mayoral race in the city’s Nov. 2 election.

Unlike in 2019, when they competed for an open seat, this time Humason is the incumbent mayor, seeking a second two-year term. The new term begins in January 2022.

Reminder Publishing sent both mayoral candidates identical questionnaires covering several topics of interest to voters. The candidates’ answers to two of the questions follow, in their own words.

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 150 words. Responses are listed in the order that candidates will be listed in the ballot: incumbent first, then challenger.

Q: What is the most important challenge facing the city in the next two years, and how will you address it?

Donald Humason: My experience as mayor has shown me there is no one single issue that is the most important challenge facing Westfield. Our city is 352 years old. Maintaining and fixing our roads, sidewalks, storm and wastewater infrastructure is important. Providing services for residents, like trash and recycling, clean water, good schools, police and fire protection, is vital. Managing, training and integrating our municipal workforce so everyone works together as a unified team is important. Balancing our annual budgets while planning for future capital needs and services is essential. Smart budgeting and judicious use of one-time funds like COVID[-19] grants and ARPA money allow us to meet those challenges.
I meet and strategize with my team to address these issues. Department head meetings keep our team informed and focused on the needs and goals before us. As mayor, I listen to my department heads, weigh the options, and make decisions.

Michael McCabe: COVID[-19] and vaccination rates. Clearly, we did not get out in front of the issue when it broke in early 2020. We are at a vaccination rate of 52 percent. We need to encourage people to be vaccinated by advertising our belief in the vaccine, and to explain the devastating effect it is having on the public safety personnel and our medical people. The wait for any type of admission went from under an hour to roughly 6-7 hours. The majority of patients that are in our waiting rooms are unvaccinated COVID[-19] patients, and they present in critical need. Almost all of which could be avoided through vaccination. While I would not mandate vaccinations, I would promote it on social media and the print media.

Q: What three goals do you hope to have accomplished at the end of your two-year term?

Donald Humason: 1. I intend to see the completion of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail next spring, which will bring people into our downtown and riverfront areas and create new customers for our downtown and trailside businesses.
2. The first Master Plan process for Westfield in 50 years (which I proposed and the City Council funded) should be started later this year and completed in my next term, creating a plan for the city’s future.
3. Start of construction on the Hyper Data Center campus in Westfield, which will bring new taxes and jobs, along with other economic development without significant negative impact on north side residents or our environment.
4. And, as a bonus goal, I have had conversations with Massachusetts Adjutant General Gary Keefe about obtaining the Armory on Franklin Street from the state for a city DPW yard or other purposes. I am optimistic and hopeful it will happen.

Michael McCabe: I would try to effectively use the American Rescue Plan Act money on sewer and road problems that have not been done due to lack of resources. I would hire a person to steward the process and make sure allocations are correct, based on key criteria, i.e., experience in city management, understanding of procurement law and grants and command of the MUNIS system. I would create a “grants” system to help small business rebound and rebuild after COVID[-19], based on their net yearly sales. I would also try to tackle equitable distribution of hazard/premium pay.
Reconstruction of Holyoke Road is a must. Explore innovative avenues to relieve congestion in the Southampton Road corridor by prohibiting commercial vehicles from going northbound on Servistar Way after Campanelli Drive, and opening a second access onto the turnpike.
Public health concerns such as COVID[-19] and the opioid epidemic would be addressed actively through creative use of media.

More questions and answers

Reminder Publishing’s voter guide will continue in the pages of The Westfield News over the next week and a half. Pick up the newspaper every day for mayoral candidate questions and answers, starting Oct. 22, along with election-related articles, candidate statements and letters to the editor. To add your thoughts to our coverage, send your letter to the editor to pressreleases@thewestfieldnews.com, or 181 Root Road, Westfield, MA 01085.